JP3824136B2 - Inventory control device for automatic warehouse system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a stacker crane equipped with a fork device and capable of moving up and down and horizontally can be loaded between a plurality of shelves installed in a moving direction of the fork device and assigned to a designated shelf among a plurality of shelves assigned with predetermined addresses. The present invention relates to an inventory control device of an automatic warehouse system that performs taking.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an automatic warehouse system, inventory is performed for each predetermined period in which package data on each shelf is compared with actual packages. In this inventory work, the address assigned to each shelf is input and specified by the main computer for system management etc., and the inventory range is set, and the stacker crane is set at the position of each shelf in the set inventory range. The fork devices are sequentially moved and picked up from the shelf so that whether or not the baggage matches the baggage data is checked.
[0003]
At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, all the shelves R are divided into a plurality of inventory ranges that are rectangular in a side view, and each inventory range is sequentially set, and the vertical direction for the shelves R within the set inventory range. Alternatively, the fork device is moved in the horizontal direction to perform loading, and loading is performed for all the shelves R by repeating this operation.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with the conventional method, it takes a very long time to inventory all the shelves of an automatic warehouse system at the same time, so inventory often does not end in one day's work. In such cases, a certain inventory range When the operation of the system is terminated in the middle of the above work, the next inventory range is set so as to include the remaining shelves in the suspended inventory range in order to resume inventory from the next time.
[0005]
Specifically, as shown by the one-dot chain line rectangle in FIG. 6, when the hatched rack R among the racks R in the inventory range interrupted last time is unfinished, the work is resumed. As a stocktaking range, a rectangle surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 6 is usually selected. In this case, the fork device is moved twice for two shelves R where a dashed line and a broken line overlap each other. As a result, there is a problem that wasteful working time is consumed.
[0006]
In addition, in the conventional method, since there is no need to take inventory this time for shelves that have never been in and out from the previous inventory work, this is also wasteful of work time. There was a problem that occurred.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warehouse system capable of reducing the time required for inventory.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a plurality of stacker cranes each provided with a fork device and capable of vertical movement and horizontal movement, each of which is installed in each of the movement directions of the fork device and assigned a predetermined address. In an automatic warehouse system that picks up a specified shelf among the shelves, the inventory range is set by inputting the address when stocktaking is performed for each predetermined period in which the package data of each shelf is checked against the actual product. Within the next inventory range set by the range input unit to be set, a flag setting unit that is provided for each of the shelves and sets an inventory flag indicating that the inventory of the shelf has been completed, and the range input unit The fork device is moved except for the shelf for which the inventory flag is set when the shelf for which the inventory flag is set exists. And a control unit for performing load pickup, the control unit, until inventory after the end next inventory, and resets the flag when the inventory flag has changed luggage data shelf 3 is set, When there is a shelf in which the inventory flag is set at the next inventory time, the luggage on the shelf is moved to a position far from the movement starting position of the fork device .
[0009]
According to such a configuration, it can be determined whether or not the inventory has been completed by checking whether or not the inventory flag is set. By performing this, it is possible to shorten the time required for inventory. In addition, it is not necessary to perform inventory for verification again for shelves with the inventory flag set, and such luggage that does not need to be inventoried is moved to a position far from the movement starting position of the fork device. Thus, since it is only necessary to perform inventory for a shelf close to the movement starting position of the fork device, it is possible to reduce the time required for inventory.
[0010]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the range input unit sets a next inventory range by excluding the shelf in which the inventory flag is set from the inventory range. According to such a configuration, at the stage of setting the inventory range, it can be determined whether the inventory has been completed based on whether the inventory flag is set. Therefore, an inventory range that does not include the inventory that has been completed is set. The time required for inventory can be shortened.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall external configuration, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall schematic configuration, FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the operation.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic warehouse system 1 includes a shelf building 5 in which a plurality of shelves 3 to which predetermined addresses are assigned and packages are stored are arranged in a height (vertical) direction and a horizontal (horizontal) direction. A passage 7 is provided between the shelves 5 that are formed by arranging a plurality in parallel and are arranged to face each other. A traveling rail 9 is laid along the passage 7 above and below the passage 7, and a stacker crane 11 that transports luggage travels along the traveling rail 9 in the passage 7.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the stacker crane 11 has a pair of mast devices 13 whose upper end and lower end are movably attached along the traveling rails 9, and ascending and descending up and down along the mast device 13. A stand 15 and a fork device 17 comprising a fork and a pallet mounted on the lift 15 and moving vertically and horizontally to pick up a load from the shelf 3 are provided. Reference numeral 19 denotes a station installed on one side of the shelf 5.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, various data are exchanged between the main computer 21 and a plurality of crane controllers 23 provided for each stacker crane 11 and connected to the main computer 21 by a LAN cable 25. In addition, the entire system is managed and controlled.
[0015]
By the way, when carrying out inventory every predetermined period (for example, 6 months) for comparing the package data of each shelf 3 with the actual product, the address of each shelf 3 is input and designated by the keyboard operation of the main computer 21, thereby taking the inventory. A range is set. Such an input specification process of the inventory range by the main computer 21 corresponds to the range input unit.
[0016]
Then, the set inventory range data is transmitted to the crane controller 23, and when the crane controller 23 receives the inventory range data from the main computer 21, the lifting platform 15 and the fork device 17 are controlled and based on the received data. The fork device 17 is moved in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction for each shelf 3 in the inventory range, and the cargo is picked up. The package is transported to the station 19 and the package data of the shelf 3 registered in the main computer 21 is stored. Verification with the actual product is performed.
[0017]
At this time, if the collation results match, the package is returned to the original shelf 3 as it is, and if it does not match, the package data registered in the main computer 21 is corrected, and the inventory work of the shelf 3 is performed. Is completed, the inventory flag provided corresponding to each shelf 3 is set by the main computer 21. This inventory flag is composed of a register or the like provided in the main computer 21, and is reset when the cargo data of the shelf 3 is changed due to delivery, change, update, etc. between the end of the inventory and the next inventory. Is done. Such an inventory flag setting process by the main computer 21 corresponds to a flag setting unit.
[0018]
By the way, when a certain inventory range is set and the inventory work for each shelf 3 within that range is completed and the next inventory range is set, the inventory flag is set within the set next inventory range. When there is a certain shelf 3, the address data of the shelf 3 in which the inventory flag is set is transmitted from the main computer 21 to the crane controller 23, and the inventory flag is set by the crane controller 23 that has received the address data. The lifting platform 15 and the fork device 17 are moved and controlled for the shelves 3 other than the shelves 3.
[0019]
As described above, since the lifting platform 15 and the fork device 17 are moved and controlled for the shelves 3 other than the shelves 3 in which the inventory flag is set, as shown in the dashed-dotted rectangle in FIG. When the work is interrupted during the inventory work in the set inventory range and the hatched shelf is the end of the work in the previously interrupted inventory range, the figure is displayed as the next inventory range to resume the work. Even if the rectangle enclosed by the broken line in 3 is set, the two shelves 3 where the one-dot chain line and the broken line overlap will not be unpacked.
[0020]
Further, when there is a shelf 3 in which the inventory flag remains set at the next inventory time, the address data of the shelf 3 is transmitted from the main computer 21 to the crane controller 23, and the crane controller 23 that has received the address data. The elevator 15 and the fork device 17 are controlled to move, and the load on the shelf 3 in which the inventory flag is set is transferred to a position where the fork device 17 starts moving, that is, a position far from the station 19. For example, an empty shelf is searched in order from the top of the shelf 3a located in the leftmost column in FIG. 1, and the luggage on the shelf in which the above-described inventory flag is set is transferred to the empty shelf. If there is no empty shelf in the shelf 3a, the same transfer is performed on the shelf 3b in the next row.
[0021]
Such a loading control process accompanying the inventory by the main computer 21 and the crane controller 23 corresponds to a control unit.
[0022]
Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, schedule creation processing by the main computer 21 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the schedule means a registered registered operation from the station 19 to the target address shelf 3 at the time of warehousing and from the shelf 3 at a certain address to the station 19 at the time of warehousing. The stacker crane 11 is controlled according to this schedule. Will be.
[0023]
Now, as shown in FIG. 4, when the input of the inventory range is performed by inputting the address data of the shelf 3 (S1), the package data of each shelf 3 registered in the memory of the main computer 21 is read ( S2), it is determined whether or not the package data is data within the inventory range set in step S1 (S3).
[0024]
If the determination result is NO, the operation is finished as it is. If the determination result is YES, it is determined whether or not all the shelves 3 ignoring the inventory flag are symmetric (S4). If the result is NO, it is determined whether or not the inventory flag is set (S5). If the determination result is YES, the process returns to step S2.
[0025]
On the other hand, if the determination result in step S4 is YES, the process proceeds to step S6 together with the determination result in step S5 being NO, and a process for creating a schedule representing what is to be conveyed to the station 19 is performed (S6). Thereafter, the process returns to the above-described step S2.
[0026]
Next, processing for instructing the operation of the stacker crane 11 according to the created schedule will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the schedule created by the main computer 21 is read by the crane controller 23 (S11), and the start-up instruction is given to the stacker crane 11 by the crane controller 23 (S12). The table 15 and the fork device 17 are controlled, the rack 3 within the designated inventory range is picked up, and the baggage is conveyed to the station 19.
[0027]
When the conveyance of the parcel is completed in this manner, as shown in FIG. 5, the inventory flag of the shelf 3 is set (S13), and the flags of all the shelves 3 within the inventory range are set, and then the schedule is deleted. (S14) Thereafter, the operation ends.
[0028]
Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, it can be determined whether or not the inventory 3 has been completed by checking whether or not the inventory flag is set. Therefore, for the shelves 3 other than the shelf 3 for which the inventory flag is set, By moving the lifting platform 15 and the fork device 17 to perform loading, it is possible to shorten the time required for inventory.
[0029]
In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which when there is a shelf 3 in which the inventory flag is set in the inventory range, the other than the shelf 3 in which the inventory flag is set, the unloading is performed. At the stage of setting the inventory range, the next inventory range may be set by excluding the shelf 3 in which the inventory flag is set from the inventory range.
[0030]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, when there is a shelf 3 in which the inventory flag remains set at the next inventory time, the luggage on the shelf 3 is moved to a position far from the station 19 that is the movement starting position of the fork device 17. Although transfer is performed, it is not always necessary to perform such transfer.
[0031]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, since it can be determined whether or not the inventory has been completed by checking whether or not the inventory flag has been set, the inventory flag other than the shelf for which the inventory flag has been set. It is possible to provide an automatic warehouse system capable of shortening the time required for inventory by moving the fork device and taking the cargo. In addition, it is not necessary to perform inventory for verification again for shelves with the inventory flag set, and such luggage that does not need to be inventoried is moved to a position far from the movement starting position of the fork device. Thus, since it is only necessary to perform inventory for only the shelf at a position close to the movement starting position of the fork device, it is possible to provide an automatic warehouse system capable of reducing the time required for inventory.
[0033]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the stage of setting the inventory range, it can be determined whether the inventory has been completed based on whether the inventory flag is set. It is possible to provide an automatic warehouse system that can reduce the time required for inventory by setting a range.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 automatic warehouse system 3 shelf 11 stacker crane 17 fork device 21 main computer (range input unit, flag setting unit, control unit)
23 Crane controller (control unit)

Claims (2)

Using a stacker crane equipped with a fork device and capable of vertical movement and horizontal movement, a plurality of the fork devices are installed in each of the moving directions, and a plurality of shelves each assigned a predetermined address are picked up from a designated shelf. In an automatic warehouse system that performs
A range input unit for setting a stocktaking range by input designation of the address when stocktaking for each predetermined period for checking the package data of each shelf with the actual product;
A flag setting unit that is provided for each of the shelves and sets an inventory flag indicating that the inventory of the shelf has been completed;
When the shelf with the inventory flag set is present in the next inventory range set by the range input unit, the fork device is moved to remove the shelf other than the shelf with the inventory flag set. A control unit to perform,
The control unit resets the flag when the load data of the shelf 3 in which the inventory flag is set is changed between the end of the inventory and the next inventory, and the inventory flag is set at the next inventory time. An inventory control device for an automatic warehouse system, wherein when there is a shelf left as it is, a load on the shelf is transferred to a position far from a movement starting position of the fork device.   2. The inventory control apparatus for an automatic warehouse system according to claim 1, wherein the range input unit sets the next inventory range by excluding the shelf in which the inventory flag is set from the inventory range.

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